SITE PREVIEW 1st draft 03.04.2014 For centuries, GOLD - the most trusty
precious metal among all has been used as a medium for monetary exchange. It once
formed the basis for gold standard before the collapse of the Bretton Woods Exchangesystem, but is
nevertheless still widely acceptable as an excellent medium for hedging inflation
and preservation of individual wealth. In terms of metal properties, although soft
in its pure form, gold does not react with most chemical except for certain solvents,
such as chlorine, flurine etc. (It dissolves in mercury). It was believed that most
of the gold that had been excavated out from earth will hardly "disappear or
vaporize" due to these unique metal properties.

<<<--- Leica
started offering gold plated Leica Camera Deluxe / LUXUS range of RF cameras as early
as in 1930. But overall, rangefinder Leicas in gold finish were not too common except
for select special editions of the M-series (a few of these are shown below).

A typical example was the 911 attack,
despite billions worth of assets have been gone along with the ashes, the storage
of gold bullion at the basement of the totally demolished World Trade Centers in
New York was literally recovered in full. So, modern theory states the gold is equally
good for fencing off unpredictable disastrous events as the paper money. Gold in
its raw form is actually a dense, soft and shiny metal, brilliant bright yellow in
color; traditionally considered as very attractive, hence delivering a kind of of
charm hardly matched by other metals. For centuries, from Maya kingdom in southern
continent of America, ancient Egypt to emperors from different period of Dynasties
in China, gold was valued as a wealth of nation, and sometimes for ornamentation
as well as ritual usage. Probably to most English reading surfers, the mad Gold Rush
by early English settlers in North America was also one of the many factors that
had contributed in creating United States of America.

Probably the first
in the LEICA M-Series, a LEICA GOLD M3 with gold plated lens and accessories, 1957

Gold is chosen simply as it interprets wealth, power, status and respect, but often
over centuries, it also formed the basis of many historical political conflicts around
the globe. But in many parts of the world, esp. the orient, the precious metal is
still often tied to royal throne where even the associated yellow color symbolizes
highest ranked and the most respectful status in a country. There were a couple of
known LEICA rangefinder camera issued in the Leica M6 Series which were packaged
in all gold plated packaging. In most cases, the matching lens were also being plated
in equal gold finish. In some extremely rare instances, gold finish also covers the
component accessories as well.

The highlight of this section is actually
centered on a less known special LEICA
M6 Sultan of Negeri Brunei Darussalam Silver Jubilee 24ct Gold Edition w/brown
leatherette which came along with
a matching Gold-plated Summilux-M 1:1.4/50mm lens where most references often relate
an equivalent 1996 Gold edition which formed part of a few variant package for the
50th Birthday of Sultan of Brunei special edition.

Here in this site, the Leica M6 Sultan
of Brunei Gold Edition has three models, namely, plain Gold Edition 50th Birthday
model w/brown leather, black leather (25th Anniversary of accession to the throne)
and a brown leather w/diamond (50th Birthday). The Sultan of Brunei's platinum birthday edition has two variants, the "top end" model has a diamond too.
Probably there could be other variant(s). you may update me if you want, Thanks.
NOTE: This Sultan of Brunei plain Gold edition model actually shares many similarities
with the LEICA
M6 Thai King Gold Edition, 1996

Other contributor's
images of this model: | CLICK for ENLARGED
FABULOUS VIEW(s) |

An even more rare model is here: To celebrate
the 25th Anniversary of accession to the throne of Sultan of Brunei on 1st October
1992, the royal family ordered 350 sets of gold plated Leica M6 Sambutan Jubli Perak.
The national totem of Sultan engraved on the top plate and “Sambutan Jubli Perak”
engraved at the back. The camera is decorated with black leather embossed ornamentation.
The camera comes with Summilux-M 1.4/50mm lens in gold, engraved "Sambutan Jubli
Perak 5 Oct 92". The commemorative number is HB-230. This set comes with packing,
wooden box, hood and hood cap, body cap, lens rear cap, cleansing cloth, strap, because
the set is in brand new condition and this well preserved set has a hammer price
of HK$ 306,800-00 !

I am not quite unfamiliar with Brunei
Darussalam; back in 1997 after good exposure with completion of the Formula 1 project
for Sepang F1 Circuit, our
Company, MIR has been
commissioned to develop the official governmental website for Brunei which include
a massive inclusion of 14 sub satellite sites for the respective ministries where
it took us 3 months to complete. Much of the original content as well as the core
framework of the site we developed still exists today. Errr .. I guess it might be
a good idea to provide links and talk to them again on site revamp huh ? hehe..one
good old sly fox, I am.

The Official name of Brunei is Negeri
Brunei Darussalam (in Malay languages or Bahasa term, means "State of Brunei,
Abode of Peace" in direct translation). It is a relatively small country, but
blessed with rich reserves of oil and natural gas. This Muslim majority country is
located at the northwestern cost of Borneo Island and situated closely to the State
of Sarawak, East Malaysia. It gained independence from British colonial rule in 1984.
Brunei is a monarchy and is reigned by powerful remnant of a localized sultanatesystem which
dates back to the 14th century.

<<<--- His
Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Brunei Darussalam, often was ranked among as one of the richest individual by western
media.

Born in 15th July 1946 and crowned on 1st August 1968,
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, current Sultan and
Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, is the 29th of his line of the Brunei monarchy.
Very much respected by locals as a working and foresighted monarch, where His Majesty
is fondly referred as the architect of modern Brunei. He remains a very influential
figure in the SEA region and works tirelessly in the promotion and strengthening
of inter-countries relationship esp. Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. I do understand
the Sultan was quite an active sportsman esp. in the field of polo (a team sport
played outdoor on horseback) and had successfully organized the 20th South East Asian Games in 1999under his supervision but had no idea if he is an active
photographer like The King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Kingdom of Thailand. But in 1992
(more exactly, 1993), it was the 25th Jubilee year on throne for the much respected
Sultan, somehow an idea of creating a special edition of Leica to commemorate the
special occasion had been proposed and accepted. Why a camera amidst all forms
of possibilities ? Err .. a wild guess is, may be His Majesty, the Sultan does
possess a personal interest in the field of photography as well.

The date August 10, 1998, marked the Royal Proclamation
of His Royal Highness, Al-Muhtadee Billah- the eldest son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, as the Crown
Prince of Brunei. The proclamation puts him in line to become the 30th Sultan of
Brunei. My good friend, Vincent Thian, AP photographer took this memorable picture inside the Palace.

NOTE: "Negeri"
in Malay/Bahasa means State(s). For an instance, Malaysia has 14 administrative States
in the country; This model has the engraving word "Negeri" (Brunei has
very close relationship with other Sultan(s) who acts as non-political Head of various
States in Malaysia); the followed up Sultan Brunei 50th birthday model in 1995has reverted / changed to use an alternate word "Negara"
- which means Country or Nation in native Malay Language or Bahasa.

Anyway, I think I should also take the opportunity to highlight a more important
event that might be more directly associated with the people of Brunei, i.e. an important
event in the establishment Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation at the same corresponding
Silver Jubilee Year (1992). The foundation basically works like a state-run welfare
establishment which formed and intended to look after the general welfare (such as
full governmental sponsorship in education, medical, rural development) or issues
that relate directly to livelihood etc. for people in Brunei. I am telling you this
because I had met an old couple in the renown IJN heart hospital (Institute Jantung
Negara/National
Heart Institute of Malaysia). Back in 1998,
the man who happened to be in the hospital room next to mine, told me all expenses
for his heart surgery as well as his whole family's trip to accompany him were paid
by the foundation. I thought that was nice and was impressed with such public welfare
system. It was just a small episode that reflects the Sultan actually was slowly
starting to release its wealth back to the grassroots level of community as early
as that stage. For the curious westerners, probably His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal
Bolkiah was best known via media exposure such as Fortune Magazine Annual Wealth
Rating which has the Sultan being often ranked among as the world's richest individual
for many years. Anyway, I am aware there are plenty shorelines that kept circulating
around the figure over the years but undeniably, behind the rich, colorfulyet and
a little mysterious background of this most famous personality from the State of
Brunei, we may find something a little personal via issue of this LEICA Special Edition
camera here.

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as well as other issues that relateas well as a rarely surfaced M6 Platinum Sultan Brunei
Silver Jubilee edition, 1992